Somerset romps over Northern Rangers

By
MARK BAKER

REIGNING Northern Premier League champion Somerset was too strong for Northern Rangers at Cardigan Street yesterday, winning 6-1 to stay in the title race against Riverside Olympic.

REIGNING Northern Premier League champion Somerset was too strong for Northern Rangers at Cardigan Street yesterday, winning 6-1 to stay in the title race against Riverside Olympic.

The Sharks burst out to a 3-0 lead by half-time and added another three after the restart before Rangers got a consolation goal.

Jimmy Nettleton, Chris Smith and Kyrone Johnson netted a brace each.

Riverside's 7-1 win against Devonport City on Saturday keeps it three points ahead of Somerset, making the sides' clash in three weeks' time a crucial game.

In the Victory League, reigning champion South Hobart was too strong for Kingborough Lions, winning 6-0.

After peppering the Lions' goals in the opening minutes, South went ahead in the 20th minute through Caleb Ludlow, who finished into the top corner when Kingborough failed to clear a corner. South increased its lead in 36th minute through Andy Brennan.

Brennan continued to worry Lions' defence with several shots after the restart but did not add his second until the 61st minute, his set piece finding its way through the wall and bouncing over the keeper. The floodgates opened then and South netted three more times in 10 minutes.

Ben Hamlett found himself unmarked to put away Hugh Undy's pass in the 64th minute, Hamlett got his second from a tap in seven minutes later and Brayden Mann popped up for South's sixth goal moments later.